It's the word on the street

LGBTQ Connect

In San Francisco, housing is the #1 unmet need of the HIV population, and the LGBT community is nearly two and a half times as likely to be homeless as the general population. The National AIDS Strategy has identified housing for people with HIV as a national priority, and, according to HUD, San Francisco ranks last in the nation in meeting the housing needs of people with HIV/AIDS.

According to the 2013 San Francisco Biennial Homeless Point In Time Count and Survey, which collected data on sexual orientation for the first time, nearly one-third (29%) of the San Francisco’s homeless identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

In July 2013, a report issued by the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force formed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Addressing The Needs of LGBT Older Adults in San Francisco, found that 40% of LGBT older adults were living in poverty, compared to 30% of the general population, that 24% needed housing assistance, and two-thirds (66%) are concerned they will not be able to remain in their homes, yet 42% of housing assistance service users feel unsafe obtaining assistance as an LGBT person.

The LGBT Aging Policy Task Force and the federally mandated Ryan White CARE Council have both identified an emerging crisis need for rental subsidies to keep disabled seniors in their homes when their employer-sponsored long-term disability policies expire as they reach retirement age.

The HUD-mandated Analysis of Impediments to Accessto Fair Housing identified a need for increased access to rental assistance to remove barriers to fair housing for senior and disabled individuals.

The STREET SHEET is the oldest continuously published street news paper in the United States. Organizationally, it is the public education and outreach tool of the Coalition on Homelessness. Every month, the STREET SHEET reaches 32,000 readers through over 200 homeless or low-income vendors. Our vendors are charged nothing for the papers they receive, and keep all money they earn through STREET SHEET distribution.

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Volunteers Needed

If you are interested in volunteering with the Coalition on Homelessness, Contact:
Miguel Carrera
415-346-3740 Ext. 319 - mcarrera@cohsf,org
If you are inereseted in volunteering with Street Sheet, Contact:
Kenneth Dotson
415-346-3740 Ext. 309 - kdotson@streetsheet.org

Contact the Editor

Kenneth Dotson
415-346-3740 Ext. 309
kdotson@streetsheet.org

Street Sheet Editorial Policy

The Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco, is made up of homeless and formerly homeless people, representatives of over fifty service, shelter, and housing providers, advocacy groups, and neighborhood and religious organizations. The Coalition’s volunteers and staff, many of whom have been homeless, write most of the articles in the Street Sheet. These appear without a byline. Articles by people who are not COH staff members, or extremely personal articles, usually receive a byline. These articles do not necessarily represent the views of the COH: The Street Sheet aims to provide a forum for voices which are not commonly heard in mainstream media.